Fuel-agitating mechanism for gas producers



l C. w. LUMMls FUEL AGITATING MECHANISM FOR GAS PRODUCERS Filed March 31.1920 2 sheets-shea*b 1 Z5 Y Ey] 57 25 29 y 2Ql 28 26 Dec. 21 1926.

C. W. -LUMMIS FUEL`AGITAT1NG MECHANISM FOR GAS PRODUCERS 2 Sheets-Sheei 2 Filed 4 'Ma rCh 3l 1920 m rliilll llllllllllll fintiIl!!!Il!!ilillaIllllfllaflfrfrflnrfflfrnl l Patented 'Dea Y' y21,` Y1926.

mvrrfgl) STATESPATENT oiFlcE.

CHARLES w, LUMMIS, or WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, h'ssIGNoR To -MQRGAN CON- y .sTRUcTIoN COMPANY, or WORCESTER, MAssAcHUsaTTs., A coRroRATIoN or MASSACHUSETTS. y

FUEL-AGI'1ATING' MECAHANISM FOR GAS PRODUCERS.

Application led March' 31, 51920. Serial No. 370,130.

The present invention relates 'to devices employed with. gas producers for ag1tat1ng the fuel bed, at, or below thevsurface thereof.

The desirability of continuously. vbreaking up the bed of fuel-in a gas producer, by causing relative traversing movement between said fuel bed and/asubstantially horizontal member operating at a predetermined tion relative to the tdp or surface of said is -well recognized". .Attempts have been made to accomplish this result, with auto-A ,maticlevelling or agitating members, using the resistance of the top of the f uel against the member to determine the height `of the latter.V These prior devices work with a Y fair degree of`uniformity only when or as long as the condition of the fuel bed remains practically constant. A A

In'the actual operation of a gas producer, however, there is considerable variation `in the conditionof the fuel bed. At certain times the fuel 'bedl is comparatively soft,

possessingv only a very slight resistance, and under these conditions an lz'igitating nmember of the 'type above men-tionedis certain to sink too deep below the surface ofcthe bed of fuel. At other times the .fuel jbed becomes extremely hard and impenetrable, requiring considerableeffort to agitate or level it, and makingnecessary a very greatly increased pressure, to cause a leveller or agi,- tator of thefabove type to become elfective. The deep penetration of a levelling or agitating member into a softfuel bedl is not.

only useless`,\but is liable to' damage the lire,

` while conversely the failure of such a mem- 'ber to penetrate the relatively hard fire bed makes said member practically ineffective lat a time when its operation is most needed.

The primary object of the.' present`inven.l

tion isto provide for the maintenance of a levelling or a'gitatng'member at a predetermined position relative to the` top of the fuel bed, irrespective of any variation that occurs in the relative hardness or relative soft` ness of said fuel bed. 'In other words, in

spite of. the softness of the bed'and its consequent slight resistance to the member, the

'latter is made to sink or 'dig intwthe bed only a' predeterminedfdepth, land conversely, under the oppositer conditions, vwithV a hard bed, the member is made to dig into sai bed to a similar predet rmined depth; Two foi-ins of mechanism, y which the above and other objects are attained, are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein Fig. l isa vertical sectional'view of a gas pro- 4ducer, the same being equippedwith a level.-

Fig. 'is a vertical sectionalview of a gas producer, the samebeing equipped with a form of mechanism constituting a modlicaf` tion of`tl`1e mechanism shown'in Figs. 1

and 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view partly in vertical section, showing the details of the mechanism that appears in Fig.- v3.

Like reference characters refer to like4 i parts in the differentv figures.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the gas.

fproducer shell, containing the-fuel bed, is

indicated'by the numeral 1, `and the levelling A or agitating member by the numeral 2. In orderto obtain the necessary relative travyersing movement between the fuel'bed and the member 2 the shell l's adapted to be rotated in any suitable manner, as by means f The mejmber 2 is here shown in'-v the form.

of a hollow bar having a substantially vra- J dial disposition in.the shell 1. Said bar is attached to thelower end of a hollow vshia-ft -of' -a worm 3, in engagement 'with' a worm.

or spindle 5, the latter having a flexible i hose connection 6 by`means of-which water may enter said shaft and circulatethrough the same and the bar 2, in order to keep. the device cool. The. shaft. 5 passes upwardly througlr the stationary top or cover section 7 of the'producer, said' cover section 7 making the usual water seal 8 with tired/rotating shell 1. Near its upper end the, shaftf passes through bearings 9, 9provided by a bracket 10 which is carried by the cover sec'- tion 7. Said shaft 5 has a spline connection 1.1 with one of said bearings, thereby pre'- venting rotation of said shaft, but permit-4 ting its vertical movement.-

-The vertical movement of saidshaft' is secured by means of a-nut 13 which is in engagement Jwith a' threaded "portion-12' of the shaft, said n'ut as here shown being formed by theL hub of a worm wheell 13,

which is disposed betweenthe bearings 9, 9.A a lever 35, which is pivoted at` 35' onfthe The Worm Wheel 13 is operatively engaged bracket 1Q, and has it'sother arm extending by a worm 14 that is adapted to be rotated past the upper end of shaft '5, inthe path of in. either direction by any suitable means; as a pin 36 on saidl shaft. Beyond its point of here shown, said Worm is carried by the contact with the pin 36 the lever`35 is weightvshaft of a reversible motor 15.

Rotation ed, as shown at 37, the tendency of this of themotor -15 in one direction obtains the Weight being to support the member 24 in a rotation of the motor 15 in the opposite 'dilatter acting as a stopl for the lever 35.'

rection lowers th,e shaft 5 and member 2, A.' In the-position of the parts shown in Fig. mechanism for controlling the operation of l, the motor 15 is inoperative,`the levelling the motor 15, and for causing the member 2 member 2 being shown-ina predetermined elevation of the shaft 5 vand member 2, While position which is limited by 'the pin 36, the

to respond to 'changes in the level of the and selected position with respect to the fuel fuel bed, .irrespective of the relative hardbed, that is, in position to penetrate slightly4v ness or softness of said bed, Will now be beneath the surface thereof. Under all condescribedin detail? i J The invention contemplates the elevation y the surface of the fuel bed, as shown in full 'or lowering of the member 2 in response to lines in Fig. 1. Should the level of the fuel the fluctuation of a member, which is adaptbed rise, the shoe 16` is elevated corresponded to ride on the surface of the fuel bed, risingly, drawing down the link 21 and lowing and falling as said surface rises and; ering, through said link, the lower member .ditions the lshoe or plate 16 floats.,I lightly on falls, but which has no tendency whatsoever, 22 of the indicating and' control device 23, to dig into said surfaceor to have it's'posiwith reference to the upperm'ember 24 of. said tion affected in any Way by the relative softdevice, thus indicating to an operator or ob" ness or hardness of said surface, said memserver the change that has taken place. Adber thus serving as an accurate indlcator of justment-.of the member 2, to compensate the height of the fuel bed. Such a member is for said change in thel level of the -fuel bed, is

here shown in the form ofa small light shoe effected .by imparting rotation, in any Way orV plate 16, which is secured to the loWer' desired, to the wheelv 13, here shown as end of a pipe' 1-7, to which cooling water is adapted tobe driven by imotor 15.A As also led by means of a hose connection1`8. Theo here shown, this adjustment may be effected` pipe 17 is pivotally swungl from its upper automatically by the lowering or 'raising,`as

. end by means of atrunnion 19 that is-hung the case may be, ofmember 22. Such low.-

in the to or cover section 'i' of the producer. vering brings the contacts 29, 29 into engager .The pipe 17 provides onthe opposite side ment with lthe contacts 26, 26', of the' upper of trunnion 19 an extension or arm 20, vvhich` member 24. of the device-'23, and thereby inis pivotally connected to a link 21, the I ,ataugurates a rotationof the. motor 1 5 in 4such ter being secured piVOtally to a'memberJ 22 "a direction as to'raise the member 2 a sufforming one part of a device that serves as a cient distance to compensate for the rise in v v through the contacts 26, 26' and 28, 28", the motor will operate in one direction, Whilel the surface of. the fuel pilot or indicator, and also as a controller, the fuelgbed. In consequence of this elevasaid device being designated as a Whole by tion ofthe leveller 2 and its shaft 5, the'pin the numeral 23. The other member 24 of 36 on said shaft presses against the lever 35 said device 23 consists of ashaft orlspindl'e and lowers the opposite end thereof, thereby 25 on the lower end of which is provided two allowing the upper member 24 ofthe device insulated contact' members 2.6, 26', having 23 to descend by gravity, thus carrying the .leads 27, 27 that connect with a source of contacts 2 6, 26', aiv'ay from the contacts 29,

electrical supply.' The first mentioned 29'. Thereupon, the rotation ofthe motor :aan

member 22 of thedevice 23 is in bifurcated 15 ceases, and the parts, having been reform, and supports opposite pairs of ji'nsustored tol their initial selected relativefposilated contacts-28, 28', and 29, 29'; these last tions, by the above described operation. of

mentioned 'contacts are so connectedby the the motor, continue to functionnormally, the

several leads 30, 31, 32, and 33, with the momember 2 having been raised the same tor 15 that when they motor circuit is formed amount as the shoe 16.

leed is responded to.

. when said circuit is formed through the con-.` instantly by the shoe 16, so as to cause an tacts 26, 26' and-theV contacts 29, 29', the moelevation of the member 22, carrying the. contor -will operate'in the-opposite direction. tacts 28, 28', into engagement with the con'- VThe lower-member 22- of thedevice 23 is tacts 26,126', ofthe upper member 24. This- 'slidable verticallyin an extension of thefproduces a rotation of the motor- 15 in the bracket 10, While the upper member 24 of other direction, so as'toflower the shaft 5 said device .is slidable vertically in the loW- and member 2, thereby re-establishing at er member 22. The upper member 24 has its once the correct position of said member 2 spindle4 25 threaded for an adjustable collar relative to Vthe surface of the :fuel bed. 34. the latter being engaged by one arm of Thereupon, rotation of the motor 15v is dis- In precisely the same Way, a lowerihg of n continued, because of the ensuing elevation that is connected to `the shaft 40 .by 'means of member 24, `the collar 34 of which is act-- of a key 50 sli ably engaged in an elongated ed onl bythe' lever 35, whose weight 37 spline or `slot lcut inthe side of saidv shaft.

causes it to follow the pin 36 of shaft 5. This.constructionfconstrainsthe shaft 40 and' The above described mechanism, as will bemember 39 to rotate always in unison with To seen, affords a positive means for raising or .the 'gear 49, but allows the shaft 40 `to. be lowering the member 2,-by Iapplying thereto movedlvertically, under the influence of the the power ofsa primetmover, such as the moshoe 16, as hereinafter set forth. tor 15. The operation'of the latter, in start- ,',Adjacent the gear49 on the shaft 40'is ing, stopping and reversing is automatically disposed a gear 52, the hub of lwhich isl,

l cont-rolled by the guide or shoe 16', and hence, threaded internally, to fit thevscrew threads J the position which the member 2 assumes al- '53 on the'. shaft 40. The gear`5-2 is in mesh ways bears a predetermined relation to the with a pinion 54, that runs loosely on shaft pcsitionpf sho'ev 16, and is wholly unaffected 47. The pinion.54 is in mesh with a pinion by variations in the hardness, or resistance, 55 that is secured to 'a parallel or cou'nter- 80 Y lof the fuel bed. Inv other words, the memshaftv 56. In the normal operation of the ber r2 is made temperate at all times mechalnismythe gear 52, althou h loose on with" suitable penetration into the fuel bed,` the shaft 40, rotates in unison the ewith, and

'and it makesnodiEerence Whether the fuel with the gear 49. By reason of its screwy bed be hard or'soft, this condition willl-alconnection with the shaft 40, the gear 52 S5 Ways be maintained. The degree of penebecomes available, when desired, to change j the collar 34 up or down on the shaft. or hereiia terdesc'rbed. spindle 25 ofl the member 24. It is to be tration, or in other words thel vertical dis the vertical position of the shaft 4() through tance between the leveller 2 and theshoe 16 the instrumentality of ycertain change speed can 'be varied at Will, simply! by adjusting gearing betweenv .the 'shafts 47 and 56, as

' 90 A gear 57 secured to the shaft 47,` runs in understood, of course, that the operation of meshWith-a smaller gear 58, normally run the mechanism above described is not conningloose on the shaft 56. These two gears ned in any way to the maintenance, under 57 Iand 58 constitute one of the change speed f all conditions, of the same fuel bed penetradevices for differentially operating the gear -95' tion by thev member 2; the adjustments to 52, to lchange the heightiof'the' shaft 40 and A which the indicating and control .device 23 member 39. The otherzchance speed device present instance i's shown as .of the stationorv tprn buckle 63,.',with an loperating arm 64. ,ary type, having a shell 38, containing Ithe One end of-the latter isjp'ivotally` connected are suscepticleas well as suitable Jvariation comprises meshing gears 59 and 60, the forinthe proportions of arms 17 and 20 and the mer secured to shaft 47,v and the latter nortwo arms of lever 35, make itpossible'to obl ma11y'runnin'g,loose on shaft 56;) these gearstain different predetermined degrees of pene- 59 and 60'have a diii'erentv ratio from the tration at 'different levels; forinsta-nce, au gears 57 and 58. Between the gears 58 and slight vpenetrationwhen the fuel in the pro- 60 on the shaft 56 is a clutching-mechanismducer \is at a low level, and a greater pene- 61, 61, adapted when operated. to clutch one tration when said fuel is at a higher level. l or the otherj of: the .gears 58 or 60 to the -105 Figs. 3 and 4 show a variation off the in' shaft 5 `This clutching'mechanism 1s norvention, as regards the transmission to the mally inoperative, and remains'in its neutral levelling 'member of the .fluctuation of ythe`or inoperative position as long as -the level feeler or guidetshoe 16.l The latter, asbof the fuel` 'bed remains `unchanged. The fore, rests lightly or floats on the surface of 'clutches 61, 61, are operated by. means o f a the bed of fuel in the producer, which in' the pi'voted lever 62, that is connected by a link loo bed of fuel. The levellingr or -agitating to a'sleeve 65, carried by the; upper end of member is hereJ shown as a radial arm 39, the' shaft .40, and the otherend of arm 64 1s which is rsecured toa vertical rotatiii'gfshaft connected' by a link 66 to the arm-20 'of` the 40, the latter passing upwardly 4throngh the guide device or feeler 16,pro]ect1 ng.above top of the producer and' being suppdrted in the' trunnions 19-of the latter. u bearings 41, 41, of a bracket 42. The' rota- In theoperation of the mechanism, the tion of the shaft 40 gives/the necessary relamemberv 39 'rotates-at a constant speedKand 129 tive 'traversing movement between member at each revolutionpasse/s under the shoe 16.

. 39 and the fuel bed, and makessaid'member. When the shoe 16- responds to a rise of the '39 eifective over substantially the entire area v fuel bed, the consequent lowering of arm k20 of said fuel bed, as will be well understood.. draws down thelink 66"an d causes theleyer For rotation of the shaft 40, there is pro; 62 to rock in a clockwlse dlrectlon, throwing vided a 'motor 43,.or'other prime mover, on in the clutch 61 which operatively connects the shaftr44 of which is secured/a worm the gear 60 to theshaftI 56. This renders 45, the latterbeing in mesh with a worm gear operative the gear train 59, 60, and causes The shaft 47 carthe shaft 56 to be rotated at aslower speed 46 on a verticalshaft 4 ries a pinion 48 whichgm eshes with a gear 49 than the shaft 47. "lhis in through the 4130' i pinions 5,4

turn causes rotation of the 'higher speed than' the gear 49 and shaft 40,

and 55, constrains the gear 52 to rotate at a slower speed than the shaft 40 and gear 49, whereby through the medium of screwthread 53, the shaft and member 39 are' raised an amount corresponding to the elevation of the shoe 16, sd as to restore the normal positionof member 39 relative to the top of the fuel bed. As the shaft 40 is elevated, the collar 65 at the upper end thereof shifts the arm 64 and causes the latter to dis- -engage the clutch 61 thereby7- discontinuing '56. This establishes the gear train 57, 58,-

which causes a rotation of the'shaft- 56 at a higher speed than the shaft 47, which in gear 52 ata so thatshaft iOmoves downwardly inthe gear 52 and lowers the member 39a Theflow-` ering of the shaft causes loviT downwardly andthereby accomplishes the unclutching of the gear 58 at the proper moments 'lhe'turn buckle 63 gives a means rof adjustment, similar to the collar 34 in the first describedform, for changing the vertical distance between the shoe 16 andthe member @9L l Iclaim f 1.J In a gas producer, a fuel agitating device, mechanism operable t impart a rais-v ing or loweringim'ovement to5V said device,

fill

and ai member, independent of said agitating device and movable in response to changes ducer," for inaugurating the .action of said raising andlowermg mechanism.

2. In a gas producer, a fuel agitati'ng de.-

`vice, mechanism adapted to raise and lower 4said device, a member independent of said agltatmg device and responsive to changes in the level of the fuel in said producer for rocurino the action of said raisin0r andloweringanechanism, and means for autoi-naticallydiscontmumgthe action of said mechanism when a. predetermined relation` p between the position of said agitat-ing device,

and thelevel ofthe fuel is'restored.

Kvice,

vibe,

the arm 64 to fol-y in the level of the bed of fuel in said pro` 3. In a gas producer, afuel agitating deand member independent of said de-v vice and movable in response to ,changes in the height of the` fuel bed in said producer, and means set in operation by the movement of said lmember for iaising and lowering said agi-tating' device. ,4, In a gas producer, a fuel agitating dea member movable in response to changes in the level of the fuel in said producer, a .normally inoperative mechanism adapted to raise and lower said agitating device, and means operatively connected to said movable memberl for contiolling saidv raising and lowering mechanisnr In a gas producer, the combination with agitating means forl the fuelbed,.of a member independent 'of said agitating means and movable in response to changes in the level of -said bed, and means for procuring the raising o r lowering of Said agitating means" in response to the movement of said member.

, 6. In a gas producer, a fuel agitating de-v vice supported independently' of the fuel in the producer, a member supported by said fuel and movable in response to changes in' the fuel level of theprOducer, and poweroperated means', responsive to the movements of said member, for maintaining a predeterf inined relation between the posit'on of said member and the position f sai agitatingf and supported independently fof the fuel in the producer, a second member supportedv on. said fuel and .whose position changes in acordance with changes in the' level of said nel, and means for adjusting said agitating member lwith 'reference to the positionof said second member.l v

8; In a gas producer, a fuel agitating member adapted for vertical adjustment and supported independently of the fuel in the producer, a second member supported on said fuel and whose vposition changes in accordance with changes 1n the level of said fuel, means for adjusting s aid agitatingv member iwith reference to the position -ot'y said second member, and means exterior"k to lthe" producer chamber for mdicatlng the relative positions lof said two members. A

' CHARLES w; LUMMIsj 

